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THE MARCOUSSIS AGREEMENT

1- A gathering of Ivory Coast's political parties, convened by France's President Jacques Chirac, took place, January 15-23, 2003, at Linas-Marcoussis, France.

The following parties attended the conference:

The Ivorian Popular Front (FPI), the Ivorian Worker's Party (PTI), the Rally For The Republicans (RDR), the Union for Democracy and Peace in Ivory Coast (UDPCI), the Popular Movement of Ivory Coast (MPCI), the Popular Movement of the Great West (MPIGO), the Democratic Party of Cote d'Ivoire - African Democratic Rally (PDCI-RDA), the Democratic and Citizenship Union (UDCY), the Movement of the Forces of the Future (MFA).

The sessions were chaired by a member of France's Constitutional Court, Mr. Pierre Mazeaud; assisted by judge Keba Mbaye; the former Ivorian Prime Minister, Mr. Seydou Diarra (Prime Minister of Robert Guei's transitional government of December 1999 - October 2001); and facilitators designated by the Ecowas, the African Union and the United Nations. (Note From Africabiz Online: Mr. Seydou Diarra was designated by President Gbagbo as the Prime Minister of the reconcilement government on January 26, 2003, at the Ivory Coast Embassy at Paris, France.)

Each delegation analyzed the situation prevailing in Ivory Coast and made proposals in order to reestablish confidence and solve the crisis. The delegations made their utmost best through a consensual approach of the debates in order for the gathering to produce the Agreement, which elements, principles and annex hereby have the same value and importance:

2- The Conference expresses satisfaction that the cessation of acts of war and the guarantee of the quiet had been made possible thanks to the troops sent to Ivory Coast by the Ecowas, backed by French troops and requires from every party involved the respect of the cessation of acts of war. The Conference appeals to each party to do everything possible for the immediate cessation of all kinds of exaction and to search for the consolidation of the peace process. The Conference demands that all political prisoners be freed from jail immediately.

3- The Conference insists on the necessity to preserve the territorial integrity of Ivory Coast, the respect of its institutions and the restoration of the authority of state power. The Conference asserts once more that the rise to state power and the exercise of state power should always be accomplished and performed through the democratic process. Therefore the Conference agrees upon the following arrangements:

a) A government of national reconcilement will be established as soon as the Conference is closed that will be in charge of the peace process and the stability of the country. The reconcilement government shall guarantee the independence of the Justice institution, the restoration of state's administration and power, and, in order to put the country back on to the development path, shall implement the program sets forth by the Conference in the attached annex, which makes provisions particularly for matters pertaining to the Constitution, legal and law matters. b) The reconcilement government shall take necessary measures to set the dates and prepare for the smooth progress of forthcoming ballots in order that their outcome are credible and transparent. c) The reconcilement government shall be headed by a Prime Minister appointed by consensus and who will stay in place up to the next presidential ballot to which he cannot be a candidate. d) The reconcilement government shall comprise ministers designated by all parties that attended the Conference. The appointment to ministerial positions will be made on a balanced basis between the parties for the whole duration of the government. e) The reconcilement government is, for the duration of its mandate, entitled to the full executive power in line with delegation of power as per the Constitution. (Note From Africabiz Online: Click here to review Constitution' s Article used by the Conference to set up this paragraph) The political parties represented in the national parliament and which attended the Conference are hereby committing their responsibility to back the implementation of the program set forth in the annex hereto. f) The reconcilement government, as soon as established, is committed to the reorganization of the national Army in order to have troops and soldiers dedicated to security tasks on behalf of the Republic of Ivory Coast and respectful of the governing laws of the Republic; and to the protection of the integrity of the national territorial. Defense forces and security forces shall be reorganized, and to do so, the government might benefit from external appropriate expertise and particularly the assistance of France's government. g) In order to restore free movement of people and free circulation of Property (goods and commodities), the reconcilement government shall organize the quartering and cantonment of the troops and forces involved (in the crisis) and their disarmament. The government shall make sure that not a single mercenary remains residing on the national territory. h) The reconcilement government shall take necessary measures to free jailed military forces' members and soldiers, to promulgate a general amnesty ordinance in favor of soldiers and military forces' members responsible for act of rebellion against the Republic and shall extend such measures in favor of exiled soldiers and military forces' members.

4- The Conference agrees upon the establishment of a Committee in charge of supervising the implementation of decisions and arrangements set forth into the (Paris) Agreement. Said supervising Committee shall refer to the national, regional and international bodies and authorities for any kind of obstacle, roadblock, lack of cooperation that may hamper the smooth implementation of the Agreement; in order that necessary, adequate and corrective measures are quickly found and taken. The (Marcoussis) Conference recommends to the Conference of Heads of States (held at Paris) that the supervising Committee be established at Abidjan and comprises delegates and representatives of the countries that will guarantee the implementation of the (Paris) Agreement, particularly:

- The delegate of G-8 countries. - The delegate of the African Union - The delegate of the European Union - The delegate of the Republic of France. - The delegate of Ecowas' Secretary General - The delegates of the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank. - The delegate of the International Organization of French Speaking Countries. - The Special delegate of United Nations' Secretary General who will coordinate the participation the United Nations' organizations.

5- The Conference hereby invites French government, Ecowas and the international community to provide protection to the participants to the Conference and if necessary to the members of the reconcilement government as far as the government itself cannot assume or is not in the position to assuming said protection.

6- The Conference hails the contribution to the mediation and the peace process provided by Ecowas, the African Union and the United Nations, and thanks the Republic of France for its contribution to organizing the gathering and guiding the meeting towards the Agreement hereby.

Linas-Marcoussis, January 24, 2003

Approved and signed for and by:

FPI Pascal Affi N'Guessan	MJP Gaspard Deli	MFA Innocent Kobena Anaki	MPCI Guillaume Soro	MPIGO Félix Doh	PDCI-RDA Henri Konan Bedie
RDR Alassane Dramane Ouattara	PIT Francis Wodie	UDCY Théodore Mel Eg	UDPCI Paul Akoto Yao	PRESIDENT Pierre Mazeaud